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Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English, 98-11-11Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.BRIEF GREEK NEWS BULLETIN BY THE MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCYThessaloniki, November 11, 1998TITLES
NEWS IN DETAIL[01] CABINET MEETING TO APPROVE 1999 BUDGET TODAYAthens, November 11 (MPA)Prime Minister Kostas Simitis will chair a Cabinet meeting today, where the 1999 state budget is to be approved and submitted to Parliament immediately thereafter. The new budget allows for slight wage and pension increases, fixed public utilities rates as well as a freeze on new hires.The new budget does not contain any new taxes. According to reports, the increases are to amount to approximately two percent and will be effective as of January 1, 1999. The new budget also allows for additional revenue from the State Telecommunications Organization's shares. [02] AUSTRIAN FM: THERE IS NO PROBLEM FOR CYPRUSBrussels, November 11 (MPA)The negotiations or Cyprus's accession to the European Union successfully got under way in Brussels yesterday.The President of the Council of the EU, Austrian Foreign Minister, Wolfgang Schussel, said "it represents a historical moment when the accession train is picking up speed". He also expressed hope that "as a result of these negotiations, the political negotiations will receive a new impulse." Furthermore, he downgraded the recent statement issued by Germany, France, ?the Netherlands (and approved by Italy) by stating that there is no hurdle for Cyprus. Greece's alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou met with his counterparts from Germany, Finland and Sweden. [03] ALBANIAN PREMIER TO VISIT ATHENS TOMORROWAthens, November 11 (MPA)Albania's Prime Minster Panteli Majko is to be in Athens tomorrow on an official visit. The Albanian Premier will be received by his Greek counterpart Kostas Simitis with whom he will discuss matters of mutual interest.Moreover, Mr. Majko will hold talks with the leaders of Greece's opposition parties and with leading businessmen.. [04] UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY PROCLAIMS NEXT DECADE AS CULTURE OF PEACENew York, November 11 (MPA)Emphasizing values that inspire social interaction based on the principles of tolerance, the United Nations General Assembly has proclaimed the period 2001- 2010 as the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the Children of the World.The Assembly took this action in the conviction that such a decade, at the beginning of the new millennium, would \greatly assist efforts of the international community to foster peace, harmony, all human rights, democracy and development throughout the world. By a resolution adopted without a vote, the General Assembly called on United Nations bodies, particularly the Economic and Social Council and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), as well as non- governmental organizations, religious bodies and groups, educational institutions, artists and the media to actively support the Decade for the benefit of every child of the world. The Assembly also invited Member States to take the necessary steps to ensure that the practice of peace and non- violence is taught at all levels in their respective societies, including in educational institutions. [05] SWEDISH FOREIGN AID MINISTER SCHORI IN ATHENS TOMORROWAthens, November 11 (MPA)Swedish Foreign Aid Minister Pierre Schori is due to address an event tomorrow evening at the Athens Concert Hall on the subject of "Greece and Sweden in a United Europe".Mr. Schori is best known in Greece for the solidarity he showed to Greek democrats during the seven- year military dictatorship (1967- 74) and as a close friend and associate of late Swedish premier Olaf Palme. [06] PRESIDENT OF HELLENIC PARLIAMENT TO VISIT CYPRUS ON SUNDAYAthens, November 11 (MPA)The President of the Hellenic Parliament, Apostolos Kaklamanis, will embark on a two-day official visit to Cyprus on Sunday, November 15, at the invitation of his Cypriot counterpart, Spyros Kyprianou.Mr. Kaklamanis will hold a series of meetings before his return to Athens on Monday evening. [07] GREEK FM TO SPEAK ON HUMAN RIGHTS POLICY AT PARLIAMENT CEREMONYAthens, November 11 (MPA)Greece's Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos will speak this evening will speak at a ceremony celebrating the 50-year anniversary since the declaration of Human Rights around the world.Mr. Pangalos' speech is titled " Greek Foreign Policy and Human Rights" while the ceremony will be attended by President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos. [08] GREEK FOREIGN MINISTRY CONCERNED OVER DETAINED TANJUNG REPORTERSAthens, November 11 (MPA)Greece's Foreign Ministry has expressed its concern over the continued detainment of two reporters from the Yugoslav press agency Tanjug by armed Albanians in Kosovo.In its statement, the Foreign Ministry stresses that the detainment is linearly contrary to international law and expresses the hope that the abductors will soon realize that their act is uncalled for and will release the journalists. [09] FOREIGN AND DEFENSE COUNCIL TO CONVENE TODAYAthens, November 11 (MPA)The Government's Foreign and Defense Council (KYSEA) is to convene today, following the Cabinet's meeting over the 1999 budget.According to reports, the KYSEA, will appoint a military chief to take up duties early next year. [10] NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET TO HAVE ADDITIONAL REVENUE OF OVER 600 BILLIONAthens, November 11 (MPA)The 1999 budget, which is expected to be tabled to Parliament today, is to have additional revenue of at least GRD 650 billion, while primary deficit will be increased by 5.5%.Moreover, the new budget does not include any additional taxes, nor reliefs, as the Ministry of economics will not proceed to the indexation of the tax scale. According to economists, the added revenue will be derived from the recovering economy, the regulation of pending tax cases and the curbing of tax evasion. [11] NATIONAL BANK ACQUIRES AUTHENTIC COPY OF RIGAS' CHARTThessaloniki, November 11 (MPA)The Cultural Center of the National Bank of Greece in Thessaloniki has acquired an authentic copy of the Chart of Rigas, the great Greek revolutionary who envisioned Balkan friendship and unity.The document will be officially presented next Thursday, November 19 and it will be placed on display. The display is of great significance as it coincides with the bicentennial anniversary since Rigas' death. The Chart was printed in 1797 at Vienna and comprises 12 sheets that compose a map of four square meters. [12] ATHENS TO HOST CONFERENCE ON RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGYAthens, November 11 (MPA)Greek government officials and EU Commissioner Christos Papoutsis are to address the conference "Application of Renewable Sources of Energy, National Priorities and European Strategy" which will be held in Athens on November 30- December 2.Among the speakers at the conference will be the Minister of Development, Vaso Papandreou, Minster of Environment, City Planning and Public Works Kostas Laliotis, the Minister of the Aegean Elisabeth Papazoi and the Eurodeputy of the Coalition for the Left and Progress Michael Papayiannakis. [13] TURKISH PATROL BOAT HARASSED GREEK FISHING BOAT IN NE AEGEANAlexandroupolis, November 11 (MPA)A Turkish patrol boat, guarding the sea region of Ainos, approached and harassed a Greek trawler while it was fishing in international waters at the northeastern section of the Aegean Sea, near the island of Samothrace.According to the Greek boat's captain, the patrol boat approached the trawler, remained close by for approximately 15 minutes and suddenly sailed for the port of Ainos. This is the second such incident taking place this month. [14] THESSALONIKI BAR ASSOCIATION GIVES LEGAL AID TO REPATRIATING GREEKSThessaloniki , November 11 (MPA)The Thessaloniki Bar Association has begun granting free legal aid to repatriating Greeks, especially those who have returned to Greece from the former soviet Union.The program, which is funded by the General Secretariat of the New Generation, features the participation of 371 young lawyers who will keep their clients advised of their rights concerning employment, citizenship and other matters, as well as provide them with legal defense in the country's lower courts. Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |